ANIMAL welfare officers have pleaded for witnesses to come forward after a teenager kicked a hedgehog to death.

The defenceless creature was repeatedly kicked like a football by the boy in St Mary’s Road, Swanley.

Despite pleas for him to stop by an older boy and girl, he continued to torture the animal before leaving the scene.

The vicious attack was witnessed by a mother and her 10-year-old son. The 36-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I saw him kicking something and his friends were calling him all the names under the sun and telling him to stop it. He stopped when he saw me.”

While the mother ran to a house to alert the RSPCA, her son sat with the dying animal.

She said: “The hedgehog’s death has broken my son’s heart. He has had nightmares and he was crying all the next morning. He can’t walk past the spot where it died.”

Lisa Frost, of the Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital, said: “We do get a few cases where hedgehogs have been kicked like footballs. The hedgehog is defenceless and curls into a ball. It is horrific.”

Swanley mayor Barrie Wigg said: “As a community, we are very fond of all pets and wildlife. I have judged the Scruffs pets competition and I know how many people take part and how they love their animals.”

He said, it was a rare incident but felt it would provoke anger and disgust among Swanley residents.

The RSPCA has condemned the attack on Wednesday, April 5. The animal welfare group says it only sees one or two hedgehogs kicked to death in Kent every year.

Animal welfare officers are now asking witnesses to come forward so they can bring the boy to book.

RSPCA inspector Charlotte Bauman said: “This was a particularly nasty incident. The attack would have caused a great amount of suffering before the hedgehog died.”

The boy is thought to be about 14 and has dark hair. Anyone with information should telephone the RSPCA in confidence on 08705 555999.